Flashlights, batteries sought for Philippines’ survivors

Tuesday

Nov 12, 2013 at 12:37 PM

In the wake of “catastrophic damage” caused by Typhoon Haiyan, Kingston (Tenn.) City Manager David Bolling was in the process Tuesday morning of organizing a two-day drive to collect flashlights and batteries to send to the Philippines.

Darrell Richardson/The Oak Ridger

In the wake of “catastrophic damage” caused by Typhoon Haiyan, Kingston (Tenn.) City Manager David Bolling was in the process Tuesday morning of organizing a two-day drive to collect flashlights and batteries to send to the Philippines.

A Nov. 12 release from the city of Kingston states Bolling has been in contact with relief workers on the ground and they have indicated that these two items — flashlights and batteries — are desperately needed and are in short supply.

The donated flashlights don’t have to be new, but do need to be in good working order. And both the flashlights and batteries should be dropped off at either the City Manager’s Office on the second floor of Kingston City Hall or at Harriman City Hall.

“We must have donations in hand by the end of business Wednesday, Nov. 13, in order to have them reach the Philippines by Friday,” the Kingston release stated.

Authorities in the Philippines say an estimated death toll of 10,000 is accurate and even may be low. Additionally, more than 600,000 of all ages have been displaced due to the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan.